Object theatre and puppetry bring F.W. Murnau's silent horror film Nosferatu to life in a suitcase, a tiny world tale for older children and adults.
A circus spectacular re-imagining of Swan Lake by the Circa company, featuring acrobatics, aerials and humour.
Charity flower festival with refreshments, craft displays and live music held by Blackhall St Columba's Church to support the Tour de 4 cycle event.
Free drop-in Friday sessions for families at The National, with sensory art fun for under-3s in the morning and trails and hands-on making for older children in the afternoon.
Afternoon of Halloween-themed activities, games, dancing and prizes for children in costume at The Tarbet.
Annual Halloween afternoon at Bridgend Farmhouse with music, facepainting, spooky stories, a lantern-making activity and a best costume prize.
Free screening of 'Inside Out 2' at WHALE Arts, a community-led arts charity in Wester Hailes, with a weekly community meal before the show.
Afternoon session for children to explore the National Museum of Scotland's collections with games, activities and a guided gallery visit.
A concert of Danny Elfman's music from Tim Burton's films, performed by Mystery Ensemble, blending playfulness with menace and tenderness with grandeur.
Halloween-themed workshop where children aged 5 to 12 meet and handle real live animals such as snakes, giant snails and tarantulas.
Family-friendly professional wrestling show by Discovery Wrestling, billed as a Halloween Disco, at Portobello Town Hall.
A fun and spooky Halloween storytime session in French for children at the Institut français d'Écosse, part of its Kids & Families programme.
Hour-long, hands-on science session for curious 6-12-year-olds at Dynamic Earth, held every Saturday during term time.
Free makers market with up to 38 local artists and makers, interactive makers in the foyer and open creative workshops in the upper hall.
Free pop-up shop of handmade art and design by the makers who work in the Out of the Blue Drill Hall studios in Leith.
Monthly 30-minute toddler session with interactive storytelling, songs and rhymes based on a theme from the Palace of Holyroodhouse's collections.
Relaxed weekly Thursday session of songs, rhymes and stories in English and Gaelic for children under five and their grown-ups.
A family workshop at Lauriston Castle inspired by the Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibition, part of the castle's programme of talks, creative workshops and family activities.
Afternoon of upcycled lantern making, group singing led by Jane Lewis and a lantern-lit singing parade to the Leith Links Children's Orchard.
Hands-on art workshop for children aged 5 to 10 to explore colour, texture and their imagination.
Community tradition of around fifteen decorated boats cruising the Union Canal with live music, marking the most colourful canal event of the year.
A multi-sensory musical candlelight tribute to the music of Coldplay and Ed Sheeran performed by the Belford String Quartet in a cathedral setting.
Fortnightly drop-in sessions of stories, music, community and friendship inspired by storyteller Beth Cross's Story Quilts.
Family activity session for young children that introduces the National Museum of Scotland's objects through song, rhyme, movement and play.
Dual-language Bookbug session in English and Gaelic for children aged five and under, led by Kirsteen Murray.
Christmas season at Princes Street Gardens with the world's largest transportable Starflyer, an 80m tall ride over the East Princes Street Garden Christmas Market.
Behind-the-scenes stadium tour of Heart of Midlothian FC, with the museum, dressing rooms, tunnel and dugouts, and a clubstore discount voucher.
The UK's biggest trading card and collectibles show, with hundreds of trader tables, signed memorabilia and live demos at the Royal Highland Centre.
A community market by the queer community featuring local queer makers, craft activities, and beauty services, with a quiet hour at the start.
Magic Circle member Kevin Quantum, a magician and physicist, brings his show of impossible illusions and levitations that explore the space where science and magic meet.
Monthly Saturday session for children to work in teams and get their hands dirty helping local biodiversity at Edinburgh Zoo.
All-day tribute marathon in which twelve local acts each play one of The Beatles' twelve studio albums in full, with food, drink and kids' activities.
Comedy duo Rachel and Ruby return with their award-winning family-friendly kids' sketch show, suitable for all ages 5+.
Free outdoor Diwali festival with music, dance and cultural performances on Princes Street Gardens, marking the festival of lights.
Monthly afternoon session of traditional songs, music, poems and stories with the Scots Music Group, part of the Carrying Stream Festival 2026.
The annual youth performance by South East Scotland Scouts and Girlguiding, mixing music, comedy and choreography, returns to the King's Theatre.
Illuminated Christmas trail with the Christmas Cathedral, the Fire Garden and twinkling Fireflies turning the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh into a winter wonderland.
Free Friday morning music session for children aged one to three at St George's School Nursery, led by the school's Junior School Music Teacher.
A candlelit tribute in which a string quartet plays Fleetwood Mac's most beloved songs live at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral.
Festive Christmas event where children meet Santa in a cabin in West Princes Street Gardens, with a tale and a gift.
Free winter market with more than 40 stalls of independent artists, makers and designers, seasonal food and handmade gifts, pet-friendly.
A string quartet reimagines Phoebe Bridgers's songs in a candlelit concert at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral.
Free family day with interactive workshops, a marketplace of support agencies, yoga and cooking, and free admission to Dynamic Earth afterwards.
Outdoor winter installation of hand-carved ice sculptures, including Viking legends in the Halls of Valhalla, at -8°C in Edinburgh New Town.
Free winter market with independent Scottish creative businesses selling textiles, jewellery, ceramics and illustration at the National Portrait Gallery.
Beginner-friendly hands-on workshop to mix eco-resin colours and cast four unique Christmas decorations.
Free-to-enter day of LEGO building with brick pits, collaborative mosaics and a trading hall with more than 20 LEGO traders.
Monthly printmaking club for children to explore different printmaking techniques at Edinburgh Printmakers, led by Morven Ferguson.
Christmas magic show by Kevin Quantum, blending startling tricks and uplifting mystery with Edinburgh's history and legends, aimed at children aged 8 and over.
Friendly winter 5K and 10K races along the Silverknowes waterfront promenade, with a hot chocolate finish.
A female-led reimagining of A Christmas Carol set in contemporary Edinburgh, marking the first collaboration between amateur companies Leitheatre and Forth Children's Theatre.
Free Christmas market with independent makers selling art, jewellery, woodwork, clothing, candles, homeware and decorations under gazebos on Castle Street.
Meet Santa in a cosy Grotto at The Pitt, the West Shore Road street food market, with a story, a gift and a photo for each child.
Annual Christmas shopping fair with more than 50 artisan exhibitors, live festive music and seasonal food in the decorated state rooms of Hopetoun House.
Festive experience at The Gyle with a giant observation wheel, rollercoasters, an ice rink, German market stalls and a mulled wine bar.
Free festive vintage market with a curated selection of winter clothing and deadstock jewellery from TORN Vintage at Dovecot Studios.
Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol comes to life at The Lyceum for the 2026 festive season, set in Victorian Edinburgh.
A homecoming pantomime celebrating the re-opening of the King's Theatre, featuring music, magic and fun suitable for all ages.
Exhibition of the Scottish Portrait Awards 2026 at The Portrait, with the Scotland Now! Phone Portrait Awards digital display.
Festive outdoor ice skating session at The Gyle Shopping Centre, with advance booking required.
Free seasonal makers market with handmade and artisan pieces and small-batch food from local makers at the Lind and Lime Gin Distillery in Leith.
Fortnightly storytelling session with storyteller Beth Cross, where guests hear a tale and draw images for her Story Quilts.
Free discovery day for people with type 1 diabetes with speaker sessions, peer support and an all-day technology exhibition, with children's entertainment.
A festive public reading of 'The Snowman' and 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas' for all ages, with hot cocoa and a Christmas craft per ticket.
Festive family pantomime by St Serf's Players retelling the tale of Sleeping Beauty, with audience participation, songs and action.
A multi-sensory candlelight concert paying tribute to the music of ABBA and Queen, performed under the gentle glow of thousands of LED candles.
A festive 30-piece big band with strings plays Christmas favourites and classic standards in a relaxed, family-friendly concert.
Family Christmas morning at Coffee Saints with reindeer pancakes or a cooked breakfast for children, a filled breakfast roll for adults, a gift from Santa and a photo with him.
Family-friendly stadium tour of the Main Stand at Tynecastle Park, with access to the changing rooms, the pitch tunnel and the dugouts.
Free winter makers market with over 40 independent makers and workshops on perfume making and bookbinding at the Fruitmarket gallery.
Festive show of magic, circus and Christmas chaos from the creators of '1 hour of Insane Magic' at Bristo Square.
The 45th 3D2D Christmas Fair, with stalls, at the Assembly Rooms on George Street.
Family workshop led by artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb and storyteller Anne Hunter to make shadow puppets and retell a winter tale with woodland animals.
Two-day Christmas craft market with more than 30 handmade stalls and festive creative workshops at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith.
Free Christmas fair with local craft and gift stalls, handmade items and seasonal decorations for holiday shopping at The Tarbet in Corstorphine.
Festive 5K, 10K and junior 1,500m race around Inverleith Park with a medal for every finisher and refreshments.
Festive film club with bean bags, movie-themed snacks, soft play and a chance to meet Santa at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
Free Christmas market with handmade pieces by local Portobello makers and designers at Portobello Town Hall.
Indoor vintage and pre-loved market with fashion, crafts, antiques and bric-a-brac, plus a stallholder programme for sellers.
A four-day Christmas mini-camp for children aged 3 to 5 to discover French through art, games and songs.
The world's acclaimed Beatles tribute band plays the Usher Hall, working through the Fab Four's five top-selling albums.
A magical puppetry and storytelling show for children aged 3-6, with original music and cosmic puppets, about a girl's wish to dance with the stars.
Free festive family concert with live music and festive favourites in the Great Hall of the National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait.
Free Christmas pop-up market with up to eight makers selling handmade decorations, artisan treats and festive homewares.
Edinburgh Acting School's family pantomime of Jack and the Beanstalk, set in a Scots-dialect village during a drouth.
Fever, the string quartet of the Belford String Quartet, plays a candlelit tribute to Christmas movie soundtracks in the former church of the Assembly Roxy.
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